The turnaround between Champions League seasons is tighter than ever as 2022/23 switches into 2023/24.
After the 2022/23 final wraps up on June 10, the draw for the preliminary qualifying rounds for 2023/24 will take place just three days later.
The group stages will not start until mid-September, but for teams fighting through the qualification minefield, it will be a busy summer.
The Sporting News has all the key details on how the 2023/24 Champions League will work.
MORE: Champions League qualification rules 2024: UEFA changes to coefficient formula and group stages
UEFA Champions League schedule 2023-24
- Qualifying rounds: June 27-Aug. 15, 2023
- Playoffs: Aug. 22-30, 2022
- Group stage: Sept. 19-Dec. 13, 2023
- Round of 16: Feb. 13-March 13, 2024
- Quarterfinals: April 9-17, 2024
- Semifinals: April 30-May 8, 2024
- Final: June 1, 2024
The path to the UEFA Champions League group stages will begin for some sides as early as June 27 as four teams play out a one-legged semi-finals and final.
After that, three further rounds of two-leg, aggregate-goal qualifiers will be held in July and August, before the group stage starts in September.
The 2022/23 Champions League was amended to fit in the 2022 World Cup, but the 2023/24 tournament will follow a more traditional format, with group stage matches stretching into December
There will then be a standard three-month break before the knockout stages begin in mid-February.
The 2023/24 Champions League final will be held on June 1, at Wembley Stadium, as a slightly earlier clash due to the incoming Euro 2024 tournament.
Champions League qualification 2023/24
The 2023/24 Champions League will be the final campaign before UEFA increases the number of group stage teams from 32 to 36.
The Premier League, Spain’s La Liga, Serie A in Italy and the German Bundesliga will all receive four automatic spots in the group stages, with Spain given an extra spot due to Sevilla’s Europa League title win.
Below is the breakdown of each qualification round for the 2023/24 Champions League:
Preliminary Qualifying Round
- Draw Date: June 13, 2023
- Round Date: June 27-30, 2023
This round involves four domestic champions from the lowest ranked applicable UEFA co-efficient members, with 2023/24’s entrants confirmed as Iceland (Breiðablik), San Marino (Tre Penne), Andorra (Atletic Club d’Escaldes) and Montenegro (Fudbalski Podgorica), with only one team progressing to the next round.
First Qualifying Round
- Draw Date: June 20, 2023
- Round Date: July 11-19, 2023
The sole preliminary qualifier will join 29 other teams from across Europe at the First Qualifying Round, including domestic champions from Turkey, Cyprus and Sweden.
*Teams qualified as of June 8, 2023
- BK Häcken
- Astana
- Zalgiris
- HJK
- Valmiera
- Shamrock Rovers
- KÍ
- Flora
- Ħamrun Spartans
- Dinamo Tbilisi
- The New Saints
- Lincoln Red Imps
- Ferencvaros
- Qarabag
- Slovan Bratislava
- Ludogorets Razgrad
- Sheriff Tiraspol
- BATE Borisov
- Astana
- Maccabi Haifa
- Olimpija Ljubljana
- Zrinjski Mostar
- Raków Częstochowa
- Partizani
- Farul Constanta
- Ballkani
- Larne
- Uratu
- Swift Hesperange
- Struga
Second Qualifying Round
- Draw Date: June 21, 2023
- Round Date: July 25-Aug 2, 2023
The qualification pictures begins to change from this stage onwards with the inclusion of Champions Paths and League Paths, which places teams on different routes based on how qualified their domestic leagues/cups.
*Teams qualified as of June 8, 2023
- Molde
- Dinamo Zagreb
- FC Copenhagen
- Galatasaray
- Aris Limassol
- Genk
- Dnipro
- Servette
- Panathinaikos
Third Qualifying Round
- Draw Date: July 24, 2023
- Round Date: Aug 8-15, 2023
This stage continues to follow the Champions Paths and League Paths format, with the winners of the Swiss and Greek league entering the competition, alongside the runner up in the Scottish Premiership
*Teams qualified as of June 8, 2023
- Rangers
- Braga
- PSV Eindhoven
- Marseille
- Sturm Graz
- TSC
Playoff Round
- Draw Date: Aug 7, 2023
- Round Date: Aug 22-30, 2023
The playoff stage is the final hurdle before the group stages and involves the level of competition stepping up with the champions of Ukraine and Belgium amongst those who will enter the fray.
*Teams qualified as of June 8, 2023
- Young Boys
- Antwerp
Group Stages
- Draw Date: Aug 31, 2023
- Round Start: Sep 19, 2023
26 teams will automatically qualify for the group stages, including four each from England, Spain, Germany and Italy, with the final six spots confirmed after the playoffs are completed.
